Dishwashing machine



June 4, 1940, M. N. PARTRIDGE 2,203,029

DI SHWASHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MORE/5 NORTON PAR T RIDGf l N V E N TO R ATTOR N EYS M. N. PARTRIDGE 2,203,029

DISHWASHING MACHINE June 4, 1940.

Filed Nov. 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR ATTORN EYS MOE/W5 NORTOlIV PARTR/DEE Patented June 4, 1940 2,203,029 I a H B G a Morris Norton Partridge, East Orang N, J;

UNITED STATES Application November 20,.';l9 3:5 Seriall N, 15 Claimsa (Cl.-".141+'--9) 7 My invention comprises a novel and useful apparatus for quickly and effectively washing, rinsing, sterilizing and drying dirty dishes, tableware, and the like, and involves a new method of cleansing such ware. v

My object is to produce a novel machine of the character referred to; that is simplein construction and operation; that may be economically manufactured; that lends itself admirably to small units for household use; that will be so gentle in operation that fine china and glass{ ware may be safely cleansed therein; that is eco: nomical in the use of water and in the usepof electric power required for starting and run v ning; that will not only thoroughly cleanse the articles placed therein but, in addition, will effectively sterilize and quickly dry the same; that will eliminate danger of shorting the motor circuits; that will admit of mounting on an ordinary drainboard while yet being so compact that .it may be installed in a deep sink; that will elimi nate all danger of clogging; that will operate efflciently when supplied with warm water such as available in the usual domestic hot water system as contrastedwith machines that require a supply of scalding water.

While the foregoing are some of the chief objects other advantages will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in this art from a reading of the following specification and an examination of the accompanying drawings i1:-

lustrating one preferred form of my apparatus" and in which- Fig. 1 is a'plan view of the apparatus with the cover removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, certain parts being shown in elevation and showing the cover in place;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-4 of Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an air pump with an air heater shown in elevation; I

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of the sprayer; I

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

i represents a tub which is mounted upon suitable legs 2-2. This tub is preferably double walled so as to provide an .insulating space between the walls thereof. The insulating spaces are preferably filled by any well known insulating material, portions only of which'are indicated at 3-4 at various places in the drawings. The upper portion of the tub is preferably cylindrical in form, while the lower portion tapers inwardly to form a pan-like bottom. 4 represents acover or.closurewhichlfltssnugly v I i the tub i." when the apparatus is in operation. This, coyer 'may be easily liftedto .-permit;.the article to be cleaned tube; introducedinto} the washingjchainberi wa e an thev sna weem t e: walls i 413 se fi e iw i Sil a insu a mi ah r aemse" e t nbasket t antra -k design into. whichthe articles t, be cleansed are eha e! i ewis tee ble t iaeedjand by me ns of which basket ,all,of said 19 a e me en rbdw d rom; I h t b IIIiS F 2 .1 hav graphiealiy indicated various articles, such asfdish es, eta; mounted in such be ket. 6 represents the'water v inlet which is preferablyilocated in the, upper part of the tub, as indicate(:1 i -in'Figlii, arid is pref erably equipped with aspr yer end; This water inlet maybe connectedby any suitable hose or pipe with. the conventional f not water faucet or bodily, intoor removed hot water supply'pipe mot no m. 1 isa 'drain 20 pipe leading outwardly from washing chambenlfl 1 representsa suitable valve by which said drain pipe maybe opened. and closed, 8 represents the overflow pipe the} inner end of which penetrates 'intofth'e tubat asufficient distance ,above the bottom to provide the desired water level to be maintained ltherein. Rotatably mounted on a central support in the lower part of the tub and preferably close. to the bottom thereof isfwh'at I will term a sprayer. This sprayer provides a plurality of eccentrically located upwardly directed sprayer nozzles on the sprayer arms. preferably is different distances from the center of rotation so that as the sprayer revolves all thearticlies in the tub'will be cleansed 3 5 ings the particular form of sprayer bodyshown comprises two long hollowjarms 9- 9 and. two short hollow arms i0--ill all'extending outwardlyfromahubil; I of any suitable design which when the apparatus is in operation cause upwardly directed rotating fountains of spray to be projected against the articles to be cleansed. Various meansmay be employed to cause this sprayer to rotate bodily;

In the drawings, i3 represents an air inletpip'e leading from an air pump and thence into. the bottom of the pan so as to'form nfelevatedbearg ing support for the sprayer, Injthe'formshown by traveling fountains of spray. In the drawi2 -,l2 are the sprayer noazles 40 theinner end i3"of this pipei3j is closed wholly.

or partially and is rovided with an upwardly projecting central bearing 1 4 upon .which is seated. the top'wall of thehub liso as to provide a praca tically frictionless support for the rotatablespray -er. The discharge'passa'ges",itffffrom the air municates with the pipe l3 are directed tangentially from the sides thereof so that when the sprayer is in place.

streams of air will be projected tangentially into the arms l0 and II to cause the spra'yer to revolve on the bearing H. To assist in this the arms 9-9, |9-l0 may have plates 9'lll' secured therein vertically and longitudinally against which these tangential air streams impinge. As the air passes out of the ends of the arms 9 and Ill it picks up water at the nozzles 12 and converts it into columns of spray which are projected upwardly in the form of rotating fountains. It will be noted that the nozzles I! are mounted on the ends of the respective arms 9 and II and are each spaced therefrom suflicientl-y to permit water to freely enter each. nozzle from below to supply water to the ascending column of air by which said water is converted into spray and forced against the articles to be cleansed. The interior of each nozzle I 2 is preferably provided with suitably'pitched vanes It" or other suitable means to produce a whirling spray effect. Mounted on the side of the tub is a pump casing l5 containing a suitable pump operated by a suitable source of power such as a small electric motor IS. The wall of the pump casing is preferably of double thickness spaced and filled with a suitable insulating material 3. The air pump is preferably of the centrifugal type and comprises a plurality of blades ii on the face of a disk II" which is centrally mounted on the motor shaft It. The blades l5 face toward an opening II in the side of the tub. In Fig. 4 I have shown a portion of the air pipe II which combottom of the pan. This air pipe is preferably double walled and the space between said walls is occupied with suitable in- This air pipe the motor lower edges. a space through whichvapor generated within the washing chamber may pass from said washing chamber to the pump during the operation of the apparatus.

The loaded basket The .cover is then while the pan is be heated and hot air will be circulated through the washing chamber, the first efl'ect of which is to soften any grease on the articles therein to make it more easily removable when the founis first loaded with dishes andtains of spray begin to operate. When the water level reaches the sprayers the water will be picked up by the air passing therethrough and the washing operationwvill begin. During this operation it will be apparent that the hot airor vapor will tend to increase the temperature of the water in the washing chamber. It will be understood. of course, that a suitable detergent is introduced intothe washing chamber to mix with the water therein to 7 ing operation. When the articles have been subjected to the washing process for an adequate time to thoroughly clean the same, the drain pipe is opened and the drying operation may be omitted.

By reason of the location of the pump on the side of the tub, the overall height of t however, to have said level somewhat above the tops of the sprayer nozzles, as indicated by the dot and dash line in Fig. 2. I have conventionally illustrated the overflow pipe 8 as slidable up and down for the above purpose, it being understood, of course, that the sliding fit of the pipe within the tub should be sumciently tight to prevent leakage. It is preferable that the sprayer should be held by gravity alone on the bearing point I. I accordingly make the sprayer sufficiently heavy so that it will just overcome its tendency to float when the pan is filled with water and the arms of the sprayer are filled with air during the operation of the apparatus. sprayer from floating to the surface while still allowing it to so lightly rest on the bearing support l4 that wear and friction are negligible, thereby lessening the power required to start and drive the sprayer as well as life. It will be apparent from the drawings and description-thereof that there are no parts to become clogged and that all parts are so accessible that whenever it is desirable to clean the apassist in, the wash- 1 This will prevent the in said hollow sprayer, a

paratus this can be easily and quickly accomplished.

I have sought to make it clear that I have shown and described only a preferred form of my invention, realizing full well that modifications may be made in the arrangement of and construction of details without departure from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. In a machine of the character described. a tub, a movable closure therefor to permit access to the tub chamber, means to support articles to be cleansed in said tub and spaced above the bottom thereof, an air driven hollo'w; sprayer rotatably supported in the tub in the space below such articles, a plurality of eccentrically located sprayer nozzles thereon with air passages leading thereto, a power driven air pump, air duct means from the upper portion of said tub to said pump and from said pump to the air passages in said hollow sprayer, a heater for the air in said duct means, means within the nozzles to cause a plurality of columns of said air to be whirled upwardly in said tub from said nozzles, a port for admitting water into the tub, and an outlet port above said nozzles and below the articles to be cleansed.

2. In a machine of the character described, a tub, a movable closure therefor to permit access to the tub chamber, means to support articles to be cleansed in said tub and spaced above the bottom thereof, an air driven hollow sprayer rotatably supported in the tub in the space below such articles and having air passages leading to eccentrically located upwardly directed spray nozzles thereon, a power driven air pump, air duct means from the upper portion of said tub leading to said pump and from said pump to the interior of said hollow sprayer, a heater for the air in said duct means, a port for admitting water into said tub, and an adjustable outlet port below the means for supporting the articles to be washed and above said nozzles for establishing the normal water level in said tub. i

3. In a machine of the character described, a tub adapted to contain liquid, a movable closure therefor to permit access to the tub chamber, means to support articles to be cleansed in said tub and spaced above the bottom thereof, a hollow sprayer rotatably supported upon a central bearing in the tub in the space below such articles and having a plurality of upwardly directed sprayer nozzles located at different distances from its axis of rotation, a power driven air pump, air duct means leading from the upper portion of said tub'to said pump and from said pump to the interior of said hollow sprayer to rotate the latter, a heater for said duct means, and means to cause fountains of air and liquid to be directed upwardly in said tub from said nozzles while said sprayer is rotating.

4. In a machine of the character described, a tub, a movable closure therefor to permit access to the tub chamber, means to support articles to be cleansed in said tub and spaced above the bottom thereof, a hollow sprayer rotatably mounted in the tub in the space below such articles and having wardly directed nozzles with water inlets adjacent thereto, a power driven air pump, air duct means from the upper side portion of said tub to said pump and from said pump to passages heater for the air in eccentrically located upsaid duct means, and a vertically positioned baiiie means in the upper side portion of the tub to-protect the inlet to said air pump.

5. In a machine'of the character described, a tub, a movable closure therefor to permit access to the tub chamber, means to support articles to be cleansed in said tub and spaced above the bottom thereof, an air driven hollow sprayer rotatably mounted in the tub in the space below such articles, an-electric motor driven air pump, air duct means from the upper side portion of said tub to said pump from said pump to passages in the interior of said hollow sprayer, an electric heater in the descending portion of said duct means for heating the air flowing through said duct, and means eccentrically located on said sprayer to cause a mixture of said air and water to be directed upwardly in said tub from said sprayer in a plurality of movable fountains of spray.

6. In a machine of the character described, a tub, a movable closure therefor to permit access to the tub chamber, means to support articles to be cleansed in said tub and spaced above the bottom thereof, a hollow. air driven sprayer rotatably mounted in the tub in the space below such articles, a power driven air pump, air duct means from the upper portion of said tub to said pump and from said pump to passages in the interior of said hollow sprayer, a heater for the air in said duct means, and eccentrically located mixer nozzles to cause said air within the body of said sprayer to be directed upwardly in said tub from said sprayer to pick up water at said nozzles and form vertically directed fountains of spray, and means to maintain a water level adjacent the nozzles outlets.

7. In a dishwashing machine, a tub, means for holding therein articles to be cleansed above and spaced from the bottom thereof, means for creating a'plurality of rotating upwardly directed fountains of spray at certain times and only upwardly directed columns of hot air at other times, and means to propel and heat said air, said second named means including a hollow centrally supported rotatable member with a plurality of mixer nozzles thereon at different distances from the center of rotation thereof.

8. In a dishwashing machine, a tub, means to supply water thereto and hold it at a predetermined level therein and remove it therefrom at will, a rotatable centrally balanced sprayer having a plurality of outwardly extending hollow arms of different length having upwardly directed spraying nozzles on their ends for creating and directing traveling fountains of spray upwardly therefrom, an air duct leading from the upper portion of said tub to said sprayer, and means to recirculate air through said duct, sprayer nozzles, and tub chamber and to rotate the sprayer and to mix the air with water at said nozzles to create said fountains and to cause them to travel around and around the interior of said tub.

9. In a dishwashing machine, a tub, means to supply water thereto and. hold it at different predetermined levels therein and remove it therefrom at will, a rotatable centrally mounted sprayer having a plurality of outwardly extending hollow arms of different length, spraying nozzles on the ends thereof for directing rotating fountains of spray upwardly therefrom, an air duct leading from the upper portion of said tub to said sprayer, means to recirculate air through said duct, sprayer nozzles and tub chamber, to rotate said sprayer, to mix the air with water at said nozzles and to create said fountains, and a heater for the inner walls of said duct to heat the air flowing to the tub chamber.

10. In a dishwashing machine, a tub, an air outlet in the upper portion thereof, a baiiie therefor secured at its upper and lower edges to the inner wall thereof, an air pump housing outside of said opening and communicating with said opening, a motor driven air pump in said housing, an air duct leading from said pump to, into and above the lower wall of said tub with lateral tangential openings in that portion of the duct projecting into the tub, a sprayer device comprising a hub surrounding said openings and rotatably supported upon said duct, with hollow arms extending outwardly from said hub, said arms having upwardly directed outlets to permit air to be driven upwardly in said tub to generate a plurality of rotating fountains of spray at certain times and of air at other times.

11. In a dishwashing machine, a tub, an air outlet at the side and in the upper portion thereof, a bailie therefor secured to the inner wall thereof, an air pump housing outside of and communicating with said opening, a motor driven air pump therein, an air duct leading from said pump to, into, and above the bottom of said tub, with-tangential openings in the sides of that part of said duct projecting into the tub, a sprayer device comprising a hub surrounding said openings and rotatably mounted on the upper part of said duct, with hollow arms extending outwardly from said hub, said arms having upwardly di'nected outlets to permit air to be driven upwardly in said tub to generate rotating fountains of spray, with plates in said hollow arms located in front of said tangential openings to take the thrust of currents of air therefrom to assist in the rotation of said sprayer.

12, In a machine of the character indicated, a tub and closure therefor. means to support articles to be cleansed in said tub and spaced above the bottom thereof, a spray arm rotatably mounted in said tub in the space below such articles, said spray arm having a nozzle to direct a spray of water and air upwardly'in said tub and over the articles to-be cleansed, said nozzle comprising substantially concentric spaced apart tube parts, the bottom of at least one of said parts being located and open below the water level in said tub, whereby water and air may be mixed at the nozzle to form a spra and an air pump for forcing air through one of said nozzle parts to create a spray.

13. In the combination defined in claim 12, sai nozzle having angularly positioned vane neans to direct the spray iii-generally spiral 14. In the combination defined in claim 12, said spray arm having angularly directed vane means to rotatev the same and said nozzle by means of a current of air passingto said sprayarm.

15. In a machine of the character described, a tub, a movable closure therefor to permit access to the tub chamber, means to support articles to be cleaned in said such articles, a power driven air pump, air duct means from an upper portion of said tub to said pump and from said pump to passages in the interior of said hollow sprayer, a heater for the air in said duct means, and a plurality of eccentrically located upwardly directed outlet nozzles on said sprayer to cause the air from within the body of said sprayer to be directed upwardly in said tub to pick up water and form fountains of spray when the water level is maintained above the outlets of saidoutlet nozzles.

MORRIS NORTON PAR'I'RIDGE. 

